Alonso not retiring

(GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down speculation that he could retire as soon as the end of the 2007 season.

The double world champion commented recently that he would be content to quit as a three time title winner, giving rise to suggestions that he might not live out the term of his new McLaren contract.

But Alonso, 25, told Spanish newspaper El Pais on Thursday: "I have a three year contract that I will fulfill.

"I do not know yet whether I will get one more title or perhaps even three. Time will tell."

He insisted, however, that the three titles won by Ayrton Senna would be 'the reference' for his own career.

With the retirement of Michael Schumacher and the departure in 2006 of Jacques Villeneuve, Alonso will be the only world champion on the Melbourne grid next March.

He said: "I know how hard it is to win two championships successively. I also know that it is even more difficult to win three.

"But I will go for it!"